OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Buffalo, KY 42716

Buffalo: median income $72,125, home value $188,800, $137/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blanket, TX 76432 96%844$69,688$216,700$147 pricier homes ($28K more)
Greentop, MO 63546 94%417$72,404$173,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Westboro, WI 54490 93%591$67,981$190,600$182 smaller
Verona, MO 65769 93%447$67,829$171,500$141 6 min longer commute
Salesville, OH 43778 92%290$65,556$187,500$120 Very close on everything we compare
Bark River, MI 49807 91%571$75,329$178,800$135 larger
Badger, MN 56714 91%937$70,962$157,100— cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older homes
Livonia, LA 70755 91%585$86,071$192,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Deford, MI 48729 90%433$60,776$211,700$132 Very close on everything we compare
Rib Lake, WI 54470 90%586$61,589$167,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Warrens, WI 54666 90%523$78,015$220,500$150 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Newfolden, MN 56738 90%915$71,250$187,200— older homes
Pittsburg, IL 62974 90%171$64,107$199,100$144 5 min longer commute
Carbondale, KS 66414 90%550$74,063$162,300$139 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Quitman, LA 71268 90%533$69,018$154,500$104 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bradley, ME 04411 89%1,021$76,667$201,800$152 Very close on everything we compare
Reedsville, WV 26547 89%347$76,084$204,000$178 larger
Creola, AL 36525 89%476$66,719$209,100$155 6 min longer commute
Wildersville, TN 38388 89%194$59,519$205,200$130 Very close on everything we compare
Senecaville, OH 43780 89%283$66,080$181,300$154 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Big Prairie, OH 44611 89%290$68,809$238,300$130 pricier homes ($50K more)
Converse, IN 46919 89%212$83,664$193,300$153 5 min longer commute
Elwell, MI 48832 89%411$73,393$163,700$103 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older homes
Hersey, MI 49639 89%438$64,388$153,100$160 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Bryant, WI 54418 89%558$80,000$195,100— smaller · 5 min longer commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.